Antiseptic mouthpiece.



Patented Feb. 20, I900.

M M A RTI N ANTISEPTIG HUUTHPIECE.

(Application filed June 2, 1899.)

i 1" J1" snpoaifion TN: NORRIS PETERS 60., PHTOJJTHO WASHINGTON. D. D.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS MARTIN, 01 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE I-IYGIENIOCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ANTISEPTIC MOUTH PIECE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 643,801, dated February20, 1900.

I Application filed June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,113- (No model.)

To aZZ ZUhOWb it may concern:

Beit known that I, MORRIS MARTIN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Antiseptic Mouthpieces, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates chiefly to mouthpieces for telephones,phonographs, speakingtubes, &c., and has for its object to provide anarticle of this class which shall present a durable and efficientantiseptic sound-conducting wall or passage adapted to destroydisease-germs and of a hard and rigid material capable of being wiped orwashed and free from receptacles for the lodgment of such germs.

The invention also has for its object to provide an improved antisepticcomposition adapted to be used for mouthpieces and for other purposes.

To these ends the invention consists in the improvements which I willnow proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a mouthpiece embodying myinvention and formed to serve as a lining for an ordinary mouthpiece.Fig. 2 represents a sectional View of the same applied as a lining to anordinary mouthpiece. Fig. 3 represents an enlargement of a portion ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a sectional view showing a mouthpiece madeentirely of a rigid antiseptic composition.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In carrying out my invention I make acornposition containing adisinfectant and adapt ed to dry or set to rigidity from a plasticcondition. For convenience I hereinafter call the said composition ahard drying or setting composition.

I prefer to make the'composition from the ingredients and in the mannerhereinafter specified. I take equal parts, by weight, of guncottonand-ether and dissolve the guncotton in the ether, the result beingcollodion. I also take equal parts, by weight, of alphanaphthol andalcohol and dissolve the alphanaphthol in the alcohol. I then mix thetwo compounds, using by preference equal parts of each. This mixture orcomposition is in plastic or thick syrupy condition and has thefollowing properties,namely: First,the alphanaphthol contained in thecomposition is a powerful and effective disinfectant; secondly, thecomposition adheres firmly to brass and other metals and to various nonmetallic materials; thirdly, it sets or hardens very quickly by theevaporation of the solvents contained in it and becomes rigid when set;fourthly, the solidified guncotton, while forming a rigid andapparently-dense body, is sufficiently porous to permit the gradualescape of the alpha-naphthol by evaporation, so that a sheet or layer ofthe hardened composition gradually diminishes when exposed to theatmosphere, the volatilized disinfectant being continuously given out solong as any of the disinfectant remains in the composition, and,fifthly, the composition is insoluble in water, and hence the surface ofa mouthpiece made of the composition can be washed or wiped freely.

- In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I show a mouthpiece made in part of the rigidcomposition, the latter being disposed in the form of a facing or veneera on a metal shell or foundation b, formed to enter and fit an ordinarymouthpiece c. The composition is applied to the shell I) while in aplastic state and in setting adheres firmly thereto. The facing may berenewed from time to time by applying a fresh coating of the plasticcomposition. The smaller end of the shell is cut to form tongues b,which are bent slightly outward and when inserted in the mouthpiececexert a sufficient frictional hold thereon to prevent the shell fromdropping out of the mouthpiece c. The larger end of the shell' ispreferably bent backwardly to form a flange 1), bearing on the margin ofthe mouthpiece c.

In Fig. 4: I show a complete mouthpiece made of the said compositionandadapted to be used as a substitute for the mouthpiece c.

I do not limit myself to the particular proportions above specified, asthe same may be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

The composition may be used as a coating for earpicces used inconnection with phoa e iasoi nographs and other apparatus. It may alsobe used as a lining for surgical-instrument cases and for various otherpurposes.

I claim-- 1. A11 antiseptic mouthpiece made wholly or in part of amoisture-proof composition which sets rigidly from a plastic condition,and contains a disinfectant.

2. An antiseptic mouthpiece made Wholly or in part of a hard drying orsetting moisture-proof composition containing a disinfectant and aholderthereforsuch as solidified gunootton.

3. An antiseptic mouthpiece made wholly or in part of a hard drying orsetting moisture proof composition containing alphanaphthol.

4. An antiseptic mouthpiece made Wholly or in part of a hard drying orsetting composition containing alpha-naphthol and guncotton.

5. A mouthpiece comprising a strengthening shell or foundation, and anantiseptic facing composed of a hard drying or setting moisture-proofcomposition containing a disinfectant.

6. A mouthpiece comprising a strengthening shell or foundation and anantiseptic facing composed of a hard drying or setting moisture-proofcomposition which adheres firmly to the foundation and contains adisinfectant.

'7. A mouthpiece comprising a strengthening-shell formed to fit theinterior of an ordinary mouthpiece and having means for detachableengagement with the latter, and an antiseptic lining composed of a harddrying or setting moisture-proof composition which adheres firmly to theshell and contains a disinfectant.

8. A mouthpiece comprising a flaring metal shell divided at its smallerends to form tongues adapted to maintain a frictional hold on anordinary mouthpiece and provided with an antiseptic lining composed of ahard drying or setting moisture-proof composition which adheres firmlyto the shell and contains a disinfectant.

9. The hereinbefore-described hard drying or setting antisepticcomposition made by the drying or setting of a mixture of guncotton,ether, alpha-naphthol, and alcohol.

In testimony whereof I have alfixed my signature in presence of ,tWowitnesses.

MORRIS MARTIN.

\Vitnesses:

O. F. BROWN, 0. L. CoHN.

